Mixology and 2012 Cointreau Mixology Series

Cointreau Bottle

Mixology is becoming a big word in the world of spirits and consumers. Cocktails and cocktail making is the old way of thinking. Kind of like talking about cooking  versus cuisine. Mixology is very much about caring about the ingredients. That is the focus is on the selection and sourcing of the ingredients. The creativity of what you are making is also very important. Mixology is artistic while cocktail making is much more technical. And Bartending? Well it is about running a bar!

However, the technique is primary and the recipe is secondary.

Mixology has a great deal in common with making cognac in the sense that cognac makers care very much for the balance and the consistency of the beverage.

This year Cointreau is organizing Cointreau Mixology Series, these are exclusive cocktail-making lessons with some of the top mixologists in the USA, such as New York and Los Angeles. See here for LA for instance.

Each class includes an education on two signature Cointreau cocktails — the original margarita and a classic sour cocktail with a modern twist — plus a postlesson reception to enjoy your cocktails with a spread of appetizers. Guests will leave with gift bags full of Cointreau goodies to practice bartending at home.

• One-hour mixology lesson, including two signature Cointreau cocktails.

• One-hour postlesson reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

• Cointreau gift bag.

• All the knowledge necessary to mix cocktails at home.

In the United Kingdom Cointreau is even more adventurous by offering private mixology lessons in the comfort of your home. Amazing isn't it!

"A professional Cointreau mixologist will arrive armed with everything needed for a pop-up cocktail-making master class including sumptuous orange liqueur Cointreau, additional ingredients and cocktail shakers. Leading with a lesson on how to shake the perfect Cointreaupolitan, the in-house mixologist will teach you all about the history of cocktails and how to make the perfect aperitif for a night in. You’ll learn how to make delicious and contemporary cocktails with orange liqueur Cointreau at their heart including the Cointreau St Clements, the Cointreau Cobbler and the Cointreau Margarita. At the end of the masterclass, exclusive limited edition gift bags will be distributed containing all you need to recreate the exquisite cocktails again and again."   Cointreaurendezvous.co.uk here .

Sources: Photos www.cointreau.com

The Cognac Region is Regularly Offering New Products and Innovations, but Perhaps Less Than Other Spirit Regions

The cognac industry is not known for being very innovative and creating prolific new and updated products as an industry which is remarkable for launching and creating new products but there are new products and/or new packagings, presentations being launched regularly. In cognac, a great focus is on consistency. Consistency and routine make for little variations of the products. True cognacs and authentic production call for extreme patience and repetitious activities. Fast-moving consumer goods, even hi-tech do not resonate well with cognac. Short cuts and short sighted people do not live long in cognac. However, there has been a great deal of wonderful new products being created in Cognac country using quality and patience for the sake of excellence. My short list here is not exhaustive but just illustrative of two iconic examples.

Cognac-Paradis B&B Benedictine

1) Herb liquor and Brandy =  B&B, for Bénédictine and Brandy created by Bénédictine Liquor in the 1950s, using their famous liquor and cognac.

Cognac-Paradis Hpnotiq

2) Blend Exotic Fruit Juices, Premium Vodka and Cognac = Hpnotiq created by Distillerie Merlet & fils in the early 2000s.

There are more than 500 brands of cognac. These cognacs come in many different presentations. There are a great deal of artistic influences needed for creating a new and different packaging.

Cognac-Paradis Cognac Bowen Napoleon

3) Cognac Bowen elegant and "old world" presentation.

Originally, this cognac was created from the love and inspiration for a woman named Mrs Bowen.

Cognac-Paradis Remy Martin Coeur de Cognac

4) Remy Martin has come up with a great deal of updates and new ideas in the past 5 years. My favorite Remy Martin' s new idea is the Coeur de Cognac concept, particularly with this presentation. I find it very elegant and refreshing, not ostentatious, young and pepy, probably very women-friendly.

Hennessy Cognac is by far the most creative and innovative cognac brand with so many new ideas and a constant attention for innovation and artistic inputs. We have covered many of these new products in Cognac Paradis.

Today, the Distillerie Tessendier & Fils launched their new Cognac Du Buisson XO. The distillery owns a vineyard in the local area of Du Buisson in Borderies. Traditionally, Cognac Du Buisson uses "cognacaise" bottles but this nice decanter and classy box is very enticing. Cognac Du Buisson particularity is to offer a cognac range mostly composed of Borderies' Cognacs aged from 12 years to 70 years.

Cognac-Paradis Cognac Du Buisson XO

Ralph Colemann Author of the Thriller Novel “L’indice di Raffaello” is Personally Commenting on the Use of Cognac Grand Breuil in his Novels

Cognac Paradis was contacted by Ralph Colemann, the author of the thriller novel “L’indice di Raffaello”, soon after we posted the fact that his novel was mentioning about Cognac Grand Breuil.  Ralph personally commented on his statement of Cognac Grand Breuil:

Cognac Paradis Ralph Colemann Indice Raffaello

"A fan of mine informed me about you mentioning my thriller novel “*L’indice di Raffaello*” on the nice web-page of Cognac Paradis [
http://www.cognacparadis.com].

To say the truth in my book I don’t textually assert that “*Cognac Grand Breuil is the best cognac to give to someone special on special occasions*”.
Really, there are not words like these at page *171* (not 117) of chapter 31.

Nevertheless *I leave the readers guess it,* thanks to the particular situation *in which the marvelous Cognac Grand Breuil is suggested as a
special drink.*

In fact I describe a situation in which two main characters of the story meet to speak about a very important matter.

The passage of that chapter takes place in a beautiful old villa in Fiesole (Florence). The landlord is a rich and noble university professor,
an aristocratic gentleman of very refined tastes, and the guest is a very popular police commissioner. The two characters are both of high social
level… Therefore, the atmosphere is quite amazing. *In short, there's going on a classic circumstance in which the Grand Breuil Cognac cannot miss! *

Cognac Paradis Ralph Colemann Indice Raffaello

* The Cognac Grand Breuil is mentioned and suggested as the first drink*, but finally even though accustomed to enjoy good cognac the guest (the

police superintendent) prefers to taste Sake, just because he never tasted it before… You know, he wants to make a new experience…

At any rate, *I like very much Cognac Grand Breuil myself*. In fact I’ve again mentioned it in another novel waiting to print. And much more! I’ll
do the same in the one I’m presently writing, that is the sequel of “*L’indice di Raffaello*”.

I don’t know whether you can read Italian quite well.

I hope to do rightly by sending you a digitalized excerpt of the page in question but in the Italian version, because the Italian form of the book
is presently the only one available in my hands. You know, the book has been only published by an Italian Publisher.

[Herald Editore - Rome - http://www.heraldeditore.it]

However, I do care to send you the translation of the excerpt that I promptly made especially for you.

By the way, I’m looking for a publisher willing to publish my book even in the United States of America. (Maybe one who loves Cognac Grand
Breuil…). If you know one or hear about the matter, please inform me or directly contact my Publisher. Thank you a lot.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I send my best wishes for Happy 2012.
Ralph Colemann [ralph.colemann@gmail.com]

Monday, January 16, 2012

The Thriller Novel “L’indice di Raffaello” (“The Raffaello Index”) by Ralph Colemann and Cognac Grand Breuil

Cognac Paradis Cognac Grand Breuil XO

Alberto from Italy, has just made us aware that a new thriller novel came out which is mentioning his favorite cognac: Cognac Grand Breuil.

"I am Alberto, a great appreciator of the Cognac Grand Breuil and  a passionate of thriller novel too.

I just want to inform you that Cognac Grand Breuil is mentioned as  as the best cognac to give to someone special on special occasions,  (chapter 31 page 117) in a newly released novel thriller titled:  “L’indice di Raffaello” (“The Raffaello Index”) published in Italy by Herald Editore, author Ralph Colemann.

You can view the book by visiting the following site of the Italian Publisher: http://www.heraldeditore.it

Moreover, in my opinion, in addition to be an interesting novel like the others of the same literary genres, “L’indice di Raffaello” (“The Raffaello Index”) hides incredible and worrying revelations between its lines."

Ralph Colemann “The Raffaello Index”

SYNOPSIS ON THE BACK COVER www.heraldeditore.it

Cognac Paradis Raffaello Index Ralph Coleman

In the mysterious plot of a thriller that straddles the centuries lies the most daring, incredible and shocking unmasking of History.

Just a painting... Two murders in a department of the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome. The victims are an American citizen, poisoned, and an Italian doctor rushed from the fourth floor of the hospital.

Right away, the police commissioner of the homicide squad, Sandro Varcàro, realizes that will face a knotty and hot matter.

Fredrik Hildenberg, professor of archaeological methodology of the University of Melbourne, headed for a major conference in Vienna, makes a stop in Rome and stays at the same hotel of the American victim.

Just a painting... A small picture buried in time and by now passed into legend.

Werner Valerio Venante, Director of the Institute of Medieval Art History at the University of Florence, instructs the researcher Helena Moroni to go to Austria to recover it. It shows a detail of the “School of Athens” fresco by Raphael in the Vatican, which depicts Plato pointing his right index finger toward the sky.

What the chilling truth? Heaven or hell? Perhaps there is no difference.

Just a painting... The Raffaello Index ... To discover who really are the great men of the past... To enter the dark folds of the future.

January, 2011

Ralph Colemann

Tonight Comandon Cognac on National TV in The USA

Maison Comandon

Watch a story on the search of Maison Comandon tonight on "Home and Garden TV".

The episode name is "Historic Homes in France’s Cognac Country".

HGTV, House Hunter International, more details at:   http://tinyurl.com/3ppe84x 

On TV: Tuesday 10th January 2012.

. Pacific and Eastern = 11:30pm and later at night at 2.30am

. Central = 10.30pm and 1.30am

. Mountain = 9.30pm and 12.30am

"As Seen on HGTV, House Hunters International" TV show.

2011 Most Read Post from "Cognac Paradis" = B. Leon Croizet: Cognac Region Was Ravaged By Phylloxera In Late 19th Century And Croizet Developed Techniques That Replanted Cognac (Video)

We are pleased to report that this post on Cognac Croizet's contribution to fight against Phylloxera in the 1880s was the most viewed post in "Cognac Paradis.com" in 2011. We were surprised and we are pleased that this post received such a great deal of attention. For this reason, we are taking this opportunity to re-post here today to celebrate the beginning of the new year 2012.

Happy New Year!

Bonne Année!

¡Feliz año nuevo!

Kull Aam Wa-'antum Bikhayr!

Gutes neues jahr!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Akemashite omedetou!

Saehae Bok Manhi Baduseyo!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrTXOIKnF1A&feature=related]

At the end of the 19th Century, the vast majority of the Cognac vineyard was ravaged by the disease Phylloxera. B. Léon Croizet refused to let his estate die away.

Instead, he planted experimental vines from America. In order to protect them, he built stone walls around certain small vineyards.

His techniques were adopted by many vineyards owners and this helped to replant the vineyards of Cognac. In recognition of his work, B. Léon Croizet was awarded in 1883 the Légion d’Honneur by the President.

The successive generations have maintained the Croizet cognacs’ irreproachable quality and developed the brand around the world.

During the marriage of Léonie Croizet in 1892, a collection of priceless cognacs entered into the company’s heritage.

Due to this enviable position, Cognac Croizet was amongst a select group of only 3 Cognac Houses allowed to continue selling Vintage cognacs in 1963.

For more:   http://www.cognac-croizet.fr/historique-en,xxe-siecle,4.html

2011 Most Read Post from "Cognac Paradis" = B. Leon Croizet: Cognac Region Was Ravaged By Phylloxera In Late 19th Century And Croizet Developed Techniques That Replanted Cognac (Video)

We are pleased to report that this post on Cognac Croizet's contribution to fight against Phylloxera in the 1880s was the most viewed post in "Cognac Paradis.com" in 2011. We were surprised and we are pleased that this post received such a great deal of attention. For this reason, we are taking this opportunity to re-post here today to celebrate the beginning of the new year 2012.

Happy New Year!

Bonne Année!

¡Feliz año nuevo!

Kull Aam Wa-'antum Bikhayr!

Gutes neues jahr!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Akemashite omedetou!

Saehae Bok Manhi Baduseyo!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrTXOIKnF1A&feature=related]

At the end of the 19th Century, the vast majority of the Cognac vineyard was ravaged by the disease Phylloxera. B. Léon Croizet refused to let his estate die away.

Instead, he planted experimental vines from America. In order to protect them, he built stone walls around certain small vineyards.

His techniques were adopted by many vineyards owners and this helped to replant the vineyards of Cognac. In recognition of his work, B. Léon Croizet was awarded in 1883 the Légion d’Honneur by the President.

The successive generations have maintained the Croizet cognacs’ irreproachable quality and developed the brand around the world.

During the marriage of Léonie Croizet in 1892, a collection of priceless cognacs entered into the company’s heritage.

Due to this enviable position, Cognac Croizet was amongst a select group of only 3 Cognac Houses allowed to continue selling Vintage cognacs in 1963.

For more:   http://www.cognac-croizet.fr/historique-en,xxe-siecle,4.html